Final Paper.....4.24.07

Evacuation Route: Straight Ahead

Weather Alert! Weather Alert! The words that interrupt your favorite television show to inform you a storm is coming your way. Next thing you know people are outside boarding up their houses, and schools are being closed until further notice. Gas stations are packed, lines that go on for literally hours. People are making sure they have batteries, flashlights, and enough water. You can never be too ready for what might happen. No one wants to take the risk of having something happen to them or their family.
Having experienced many Hurricanes over 18 years I have seen much destruction and have been around many people who have been affected mentally including my family. My memory goes back to 1992 when I was 6 years old and my family and I got in our car and just driving because we were under a mandatory evacuation. I just remember driving and driving until we found someone who let us stay in a spare room they had. In times of need, people help one another out as much as possible. Many people I know lost everything, and till this day people I know still aren’t financially stable. A very close family I know had to move to Canada to restart their business and their daughters moved in with close friends to finish high school.
In a more recent aspect my senior year was one of the worst that I can remember. It was around the last week in October, when they cancelled school for Monday the 24th. I never expected what was about to come. This was about our 3rd one that year and so far they had been all false alarms. So why take this one serious? Early Monday morning was when it all happened. I remember being awakened by my friends’ parents telling us to move downstairs because the storm was getting bad. The next thing I knew the power had gone, but I did not expect it to be the last of it for 2 weeks. My family and I were sleeping 6 people and 2 dogs in one room with a generator that was powering one air conditioning unit. School was cancelled for 2 weeks, no food or water in sight.
The worst had come. I never expected it to be this way. Many people who had homes in other places left and went there so they could have power, food, and water. Hotels were closed, not even did they have power. People started stealing generators and sniffling gas from cars. People were going insane! It started getting too hot to even function. It was getting to be too long. We had to go back to school. They made the decision to send kids back to school with no power. I went to school for 5 days with no power. I never thought it would get to that.
Blue tarps covered neighbor’s roofs. People were pretending to be construction workers and taking people’s money and running. Price gauging became very popular, people started selling bags of ice for 10 dollars. We were faced with many difficulties that we never thought would happen.
When hurricane Katrina hit many of the wealthy people moved to Ft. Lauderdale where they had other businesses and so their children were able to attend school, and have a life. Unfortunately people who are not as fortunate didn’t have anywhere to go and lost everything. Is it fair that the people who are more fortunate got an advantage to get out and had somewhere to go before the storm; meanwhile hundreds of thousands of people did not have anywhere to go?
Much devastation and destruction that people experienced have such an impact on them that the Red Cross offers on hand counselors, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. This volunteer mental health program was given as a 100th anniversary gift of the American Psychological Association for the victims of disasters. During hurricane Andrew people looked at the storm as a real person, and were severely scared that he was going to come back and kill them.[1]
Within the first few weeks of destruction people may experience nightmares, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and feeling depressed. Long term affects that natural disasters have on people are phobias, alcohol and drug problems, and post traumatic stress disorder. [2] Hurricane season in Florida is June 1st to November 30th. People who have experienced hurricanes and past trauma they experience anxiety and dread the upcoming months. Specialists say that there are many ways to help cope with these problems. If you stay active this will help you in a sense that you feel in control. Being prepared is a way to help with the feelings of anxiety.[3]
From my own personal experience I can say that even if I loose power when there is not a storm I would become very unsettled because after living without power for 2 weeks it brings back memories that I have experienced and just the thought of going through that again is the worst feeling. This is an example of how even after storms; the littlest thing that you had gone through can affect you. Many of you can’t imagine what its like to be without food or water. Resources become scarce and the Red Cross Heart Association held sites where they distributed food and water to those who needed it. I personally never thought my family and I would be in need of theses items ever. To experience something like this, and to know that everyone around you rich, and poor are all experiencing the same thing you are, and everyone is in need of the same thing is not something could ever happen to you.
Unfortunately this is an ongoing thing that will never end. Sometimes you will get lucky and not have a bad hurricane season. You can only hope. Just because there might not be a storm, just the thought of them still has an emotional and psychological effect on them. As a community everyone comes together to help one another in a time of need. I never really thought about how much hurricanes can really affect someone, until my recent exposure to one that has mentally affected me. Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Andrew were just two of many hurricanes to come that people will have to go through.
[1] Mauro, James. "Hurricane Andrew's Other Legacy." Psychology Today. Nov. 1992. 12 Apr. 2007 http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19921101-000020.html.
[2] "Coping in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:Some Brief Guidance Notes on Stress,Greif and Loss for Front Line Teams." International Medical Corps. 14 Apr. 2007 .
[3] "Hurricane Preparedness." Hurricane Preparedness: University of Miami. 12 Apr. 2007 <http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2441-1;38182-3,00.html>;.

Hurricane Final Paper

Evacuation Route: Straight Ahead

Weather Alert! Weather Alert! The words that interrupt your favorite television show to inform you a storm is coming your way. Next thing you know people are outside boarding up their houses, and schools are being closed until further notice. Gas stations are packed, lines that go on for literally hours. People are making sure they have batteries, flashlights, and enough water. You can never be too ready for what might happen. No one wants to take the risk of having something happen to them or their family.
Having experienced many Hurricanes over 18 years I have seen much destruction and have been around many people who have been affected mentally including my family. My memory goes back to 1992 when I was 6 years old and my family and I got in our car and just driving because we were under a mandatory evacuation. I just remember driving and driving until we found someone who let us stay in a spare room they had. In times of need, people help one another out as much as possible. Many people I know lost everything, and till this day people I know still aren’t financially stable. A very close family I know had to move to Canada to restart their business and their daughters moved in with close friends to finish high school.
In a more recent aspect my senior year was one of the worst that I can remember. It was around the last week in October, when they cancelled school for Monday the 24th. I never expected what was about to come. This was about our 3rd one that year and so far they had been all false alarms. So why take this one serious? Early Monday morning was when it all happened. I remember being awakened by my friends’ parents telling us to move downstairs because the storm was getting bad. The next thing I knew the power had gone, but I did not expect it to be the last of it for 2 weeks. My family and I were sleeping 6 people and 2 dogs in one room with a generator that was powering one air conditioning unit. School was cancelled for 2 weeks, no food or water in sight.
The worst had come. I never expected it to be this way. Many people who had homes in other places left and went there so they could have power, food, and water. Hotels were closed, not even did they have power. People started stealing generators and sniffling gas from cars. People were going insane! It started getting too hot to even function. It was getting to be too long. We had to go back to school. They made the decision to send kids back to school with no power. I went to school for 5 days with no power. I never thought it would get to that.
Blue tarps covered neighbor’s roofs. People were pretending to be construction workers and taking people’s money and running. Price gauging became very popular, people started selling bags of ice for 10 dollars. We were faced with many difficulties that we never thought would happen.
When hurricane Katrina hit many of the wealthy people moved to Ft. Lauderdale where they had other businesses and so their children were able to attend school, and have a life. Unfortunately people who are not as fortunate didn’t have anywhere to go and lost everything. Is it fair that the people who are more fortunate got an advantage to get out and had somewhere to go before the storm; meanwhile hundreds of thousands of people did not have anywhere to go?
Much devastation and destruction that people experienced have such an impact on them that the Red Cross offers on hand counselors, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. This volunteer mental health program was given as a 100th anniversary gift of the American Psychological Association for the victims of disasters. During hurricane Andrew people looked at the storm as a real person, and were severely scared that he was going to come back and kill them.[1]
Within the first few weeks of destruction people may experience nightmares, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and feeling depressed. Long term affects that natural disasters have on people are phobias, alcohol and drug problems, and post traumatic stress disorder. [2] Hurricane season in Florida is June 1st to November 30th. People who have experienced hurricanes and past trauma they experience anxiety and dread the upcoming months. Specialists say that there are many ways to help cope with these problems. If you stay active this will help you in a sense that you feel in control. Being prepared is a way to help with the feelings of anxiety.[3]
From my own personal experience I can say that even if I loose power when there is not a storm I would become very unsettled because after living without power for 2 weeks it brings back memories that I have experienced and just the thought of going through that again is the worst feeling. This is an example of how even after storms; the littlest thing that you had gone through can affect you. Many of you can’t imagine what its like to be without food or water. Resources become scarce and the Red Cross Heart Association held sites where they distributed food and water to those who needed it. I personally never thought my family and I would be in need of theses items ever. To experience something like this, and to know that everyone around you rich, and poor are all experiencing the same thing you are, and everyone is in need of the same thing is not something could ever happen to you.
Unfortunately this is an ongoing thing that will never end. Sometimes you will get lucky and not have a bad hurricane season. You can only hope. Just because there might not be a storm, just the thought of them still has an emotional and psychological effect on them. As a community everyone comes together to help one another in a time of need. I never really thought about how much hurricanes can really affect someone, until my recent exposure to one that has mentally affected me. Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Andrew were just two of many hurricanes to come that people will have to go through.
[1] Mauro, James. "Hurricane Andrew's Other Legacy." Psychology Today. Nov. 1992. 12 Apr. 2007 http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19921101-000020.html.
[2] "Coping in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:Some Brief Guidance Notes on Stress,Greif and Loss for Front Line Teams." International Medical Corps. 14 Apr. 2007 .
[3] "Hurricane Preparedness." Hurricane Preparedness: University of Miami. 12 Apr. 2007 <http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2441-1;38182-3,00.html>;.

I Can't Believe it's over Already ! :(

I’m so sad. I can’t believe my freshmen year in college is coming to an end! I had such a great time, made so many new friends, and got to experience life in New York City. It is going to be so hard to say goodbye to all my friends, and especially this one boy, he means so much to me. It sucks that I am going to be so far away from everyone, but hopefully I can come back and visit. Although I’m so sad that my first year of college is over, I’m also excited that summer is on the way. This summer I’m going to work at a summer camp with young children, I love working with kids, it’s so fun and rewarding I cant wait.

Home Sweet Home !!!!!!!!

Sometimes I get so homesick, especially when it’s cold. I miss the warm sunshine from back home and my family. I love Florida so much, it’s such a great state, the whole atmosphere is so much better sometimes. It’s always warm and sunny. The palm trees always make me feel better. In New York it gets way too cold! Its spring time and it’s still freezing outside! If New York City was in Florida it would be the most incredible place in the world. The nightlife in New York City is so breathtaking, there is so much to do and there is never a dull moment. New York is turning into my new home but Florida will always be number one in my heart.

Bermuda!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family means so much to me! Once my whole family and I went on a cruise to Bermuda, I had so much fun and it so amazing to be able to spend so much time with my whole family. I loved relaxing in the sun and not having to worry about anything. The food on the cruise was so good; they had every type of food you could imagine. Pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, lobsters, it was amazing! Every night we had a big family dinner, it was so enjoyable. After three days of cruising in the ocean we finally got to Bermuda. Bermuda was gorgeous, my cousins and I spent the whole day on the beach. First we went snorkeling, and I was able to show my cousin Laura all different types of fish. She was only eleven at the time and I was fifteen. She looked up to me a lot and I had such a great time taking her under my wing. After we lounged at the beach for a while we went shopping, my mom and my aunts took all the girls to go shopping down the Bermuda strip.

Yayyyyyyyyyyy i got a Car

My father promised me that he would get me a car for my 17^th birthday. One day after school we went to the car dealership and spent 4 hours choosing a car and bargaining for a price. After finally agreeing on a model and price, I left the dealership knowing I had a car waiting for me on the day of 17^th birthday. The next day I woke up it was beautiful out and I passed my drivers license, my parents congratulated me and broke to me the news that the paper work did not go threw and we were unable to get a lease on the car. To my surprise when I pulled up to my house I had a brand new white car waiting for me on my driveway with balloons everywhere. I was so surprised I started jumping up and down with joy, I have never felt so good before in my life, I was so thankful and appreciative of my parents, I will never forget that day.

Six Flags

Six flags, as a kid you’re always just 5 inches shorter than acceptable height, so you get disappointed and always say there’s next year. I had the opportunity to experience six flags for the first time in New Jersey. The tallest rollercoaster ride called Kingda Ka is located here at the New Jersey Six Flags Great Adventure. The wait for a single ride was 3 hours long but it was all worth it for that feeling of thrill. I had never experienced such a mind blowing ride until three hours later when I got on Kingda Ka. Halfway through it I thought I was going to die, my heart completely dropped when we hit the peak of the roller coaster. Regardless, it was absolutely amazing. I could not believe that I had been missing out on this for so many years.

Jersey Shore...

Belmar 16^th ave. is just one of the definitions of summertime for a jersey kid. I had the chance to experience the jersey shore when I came up to visit one of my cousins in the summertime. I have never been there before and it was just an amazing experience to see how people in other places experience the beach other than Florida. The weather was amazing, the sand was warm and the ocean was nice and blue. It was packed with teenagers from everywhere New York, Pennsylvania, and of course locals from New Jersey. People sun bathing, swimming, surfing, and just hanging out having a good time listening to KTU on the radio.

You Tube

You Tube, The newest invention to today’s internet world. People all over the world post videos that are entertaining to them. Have you ever just searched a word on you tube, and never thought that there would be a video that went along with it? Well now there is almost a video for everything. Could this be a bad thing? I feel like it’s just another thing for people to get addicted to. Add it to the myspace and facebook addictions. Every day I hear phrases that people have gotten from you tube videos and they can repeat the whole video. “Muffins”, “Shoes”, and “Text Message Break Up” are just a few examples of some videos that are so popular.

The END is COMING!!

December 21,2012…… is this really the end of it all?? In class it was brought to my attention that there are theories the world is going to come to an end on this date. Does it make sense??? Are there things that can prove this theory to be true? Many people thought at numerous times the world was going to end. Is this really it, could this be the end of it all. In my opinion I do not believe this theory. I live my life day by day and do not like to think of it all ending in the matter of seconds. I guess we will never know till the day comes.

I had a dream.....ZzZ

Last night I had a dream. It was a warm summer night, as I lay in bed I hearing the waves crashing up against the sand; all of a sudden I heard the loud screeching noise of a woman. I jumped out of bed to her rescue. As I rushed against time trying to get dressed, I could still hear the woman yelling. All of a sudden I was awakened by my cell phone ringing… is it me or sometimes do you think are dreams are telling us things. Maybe we learn things from them or maybe one day in time they will come alive??? I always have dreams where I am being attacked of some sort and I can’t scream. I have fears that one day when I am being kidnapped I wont be able to scream and no one will be able to hear me and rescue me.

1,2,3 GO!

My sorority participated in Relay for Life to help support cancer. All of us came together and stayed up from 6pm to 6am walking around carnesecca to raise money. I couldn’t believe how many of the sisters were so quick and eager to participate, and even more shocking was the amount of other people that were also there ready to stay up all night and walk. Being with all the sisters all night helped us bond and come together to support an amazing cause. I have never participated in something like this and walking in and seeing such a large amount of people really took me by surprise and showed me that people really do care and really do want to make a difference. It was an extraordinary experience that I would love to be able to go through again.

Egg Hunt

My sorority had an Easter egg hunt for the kids from St. John the Baptist. This experience was so rewarding for me. The kids ran around the great lawn and grabbed the eggs. Seeing their faces light up when they cracked open the eggs and found candy put a huge smile on my face and warmed my heart. After, one of the sisters dressed up in an Easter bunny costume. The kids went absolutely crazy. Some of them had never gotten the chance to see an Easter bunny and so being able to see their faces see the bunny for the first time was so amazing. Their smiles were huge and their faces lit up so much it was like someone had handed them millions of dollars. I could not believe how grateful these kids were, it really taught me a lesson about how great I have it compared to some others.

Something that means the most to me

There is this necklace that I received two years ago from my grandmother. Looking at it now, I realize how much it really does mean to me. My grandmother received it from her mother who received it from her mother. My mother never got it, it skipped her and went right to me. It’s so old and yet so beautiful. It shows me that beauty is the same regardless of how old those who own it are. I look at this necklace and picture all the woman in my family wearing it and feeling beautiful in it, and remember that everytime I wear it I feel the same. On top of feeling that beauty, I also feel special knowing that it was given to me after so many people got to own it.

Audience:Applaud

I really think that comedy is one of the best things out there these days. There is nothing like being able to come home and put in an Adam Sandler movie or a Dane Cook DVD and just laughing. I’ve also been thinking that not only is it able to pick up any bad mood that you have, but also it’s something that everybody, regardless of age or gender, can agree on. If you are funny, you are funny and family can get together and watch these things and laugh together. I really think that comedy can bring all different kinds of people and even family closer than people give it credit for.

Keep up the good work

One of my largest motivations is probably fear of failing and rejection. I think that by failing my parents and disappointing them, I would be completely lost and not know what to do with myself. Therefore I strive to make them happy and proud of who I have become. I also think that my fear of others rejecting me helps me strive to do my best, so that I never have to feel that I am not good enough or not smart enough for anybody else. These things keep me going at my toughest times and push me through my roughest moments.

If I had a million dollars.......

If I had a million dollars, I think that I wouldn’t spend as much on me as people normally think. I definitely know that I would pay off my parents and my grandparent’s houses. They have done so much for me and would love to be able to take that off their shoulders. I would definitely buy everybody new cars, no one in my family really has a nice or even new car, so I know that everybody would appreciate a new one. I also think that I would donate some money to a charity. I would probably donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, because I feel so sorry that they have so little and I have so much. I don’t know what else I would spend the money on, but those are definite things that my money would go towards.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidaysss

My favorite holiday is Christmas. A lot of my family members live far away and so on Christmas I get to see them again. My family has always meant so much to me, but being so far away it makes it hard to know what’s going on and to catch up. Luckily, Christmas is always the same. We all go to my uncle’s house and talk about what’s been going on. My favorite part is between the games and dinner. Dinner is great because we go around in a circle and talk about all the things that we are thankful for that happened this year. I love the games because it gives me time to laugh and joke around with my family and just make memories that I know will be remembered forever or at least until next Christmas.

Moose

Last night I stayed up really late, and I was really tired. I really just turned on the televison, and there was really nothing on besides the news. I really don’t like the news. Instead, I just laid in bed and really stared at the ceiling. It was boring. Really Boring. I got to thinking about my stuffed animal. It’s a moose. Its really brown. And really little. Its really cool. Really. I got it when I was really little, and it was really the best moment ever. It was my first birthday, my mother tells me, because I don’t remember really back then, but I never put it down. I just walked around the house with it for hours.

Sisterhood

I went to Cold Stone today with a couple of my sisters. We used to do that everyday when we first met, but we’ve been slacking lately. Anyways, on our way there I think I must have tripped like five times of course making them laugh hysterically everytime. When we got there we all ordered our ice cream, and for the first time were able to actually sit down and talk about our day. It was so relieving to finally express all the feelings and things that were going on that we hadn’t had time to talk about. We had the best time and laughed so hard and so loud everybody there was looking at us. It really gave us a reminder of why we were so close to begin with and made us even closer, if that is possible. My day was complete after that.

What a Day

Today was such a hectic day, I had so much to do. My mom seriously called me a million times asking me to do stuff for her on top of everything I had to do for myself, but somehow I managed to get it all done. I guess you can say I’m a trooper. I met this random guy at this store I went to, he was older and looked sad. He asked me if I was shopping for my boyfriend, which I wasn’t, but I thought he wanted to hear I was so I said “yes.” I guess I was right because he started telling me about this time he had to find a gift for his wife, that passed away a couple years ago. It was so sad, but he started helping me and I think it made his day. After I bought a shirt for my boyfriend, which I didn’t even need to buy, he had the biggest smile on his face. I was happy to know that I made his day, and continued on my way a little more cheerful.

Lights,Camera,Action

So I got to thinking about an audition that I had gone on a couple weeks ago. I never heard back from them, I guess that means I didn’t get it. That’s okay, I didn’t think I would. I wasn’t really what they were looking for, at least I don’t think. Anyways, it was still a good experience. Before the audition I was so nervous, during it I could barely breathe, and after was nothing but relief. You learn a lot from auditions, the basic ups and downs of life. I love the anticipation of getting there and seeing all the other girls that are auditions for the same part and seeing how alike or different I am with them. I’m not really as serious as a lot of other girls, so sometimes I find it really funny to watch them. They sit there memorizing every line perfect. I don’t think that’s very smart, it’s not as natural when you do it that way. I guess I just like to know the words and then express it my way. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. That’s how I do it.

Hurricane Video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TduvuKna_-o&mode=related&search=


http://youtube.com/watch?v=-JuQDsDJZ-I&mode=related&search=


•http://youtube.com/watch?v=-JuQDsDJZ-I&mode=related&search=

Katrina How to Cope

http://www.imc-la.com/pdf/Katrina_Guidance_Notes.pdf

Health Conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a traumatic event is any event or series of events that causes a lot of stress. Traumatic events often create a profound sense of horror and helplessness. They may result in serious injury, death, or threat of injury or death. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, can be traumatic for those who experience them. In Florida, June 1 – November 30 is considered hurricane season. For some, especially those who have experienced previous trauma due to a hurricane, this time of year brings a sense of dread and anxiety. Being proactive can help increase a sense of control. Being prepared is a way to cope with the feelings of anxiety and dread.

Hurricanes affect a lot of people. Whether you are a survivor, rescue worker, family member, co-worker or friend, a hurricane can produce an array of physiological and emotional responses. Though responses vary widely, feelings of fear, grief and depression are common. In addition, physical and behavioral responses such as nausea, dizziness, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns and emotional reactivity may occur. Such symptoms are considered normal reactions to a traumatic event. Most people report feeling better after three months. However, listed below are some ways to reduce the negative impact of a traumatic experience and to promote recovery. If you are concerned about the changes you experience, contact the Employee Assistance Program at 305-284-6604 for help. The EAP can also provide guidance and assistance with mentally and emotionally preparing for a potentially traumatic experience, such as a hurricane.

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2441-1;38182-3,00.html

Hurricane Andrew Mental Affect on People

AFTER THE STORM
Psychologists on the scene describe the victims' mental anguish and how they are treating it.
Imagine the enormity, to stand in one place and everywhere, as far as you can see, there is damage. There is a loss and bereavement over everything, from tangible to intangible, from a dream to your leg. The scope of this disaster is a major issue, that everyone is going through the same thing. It's loss on a grand scale."
This eyewitness account of the devastation left by the destructive force of Hurricane Andrew is from Charles Gibbs, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and chairperson of the Crisis Response Task Force in Dade County, Florida. He is one of the many mental-health professionals sent to the Homestead area as part of a joint effort between the American Red Cross and the American Psychological Association.
"I remember looking up and seeing body parts flying around me," recounted one survivor to Gibbs of his experiences during the storm. "The walls fell down and then the roof caved in on us:' reported another of the first Force 5 hurricane to befall an American city since Hurricane Camille struck Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1969.
Dubbed the Disaster-Response Network, the volunteer mental-health program was conceived as a 100th birthday gift of the American Psychological Association to victims of disaster everywhere. The network includes not only psychologists, but counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists. The idea was simple and a good one: the Red Cross provides physical treatment; the government, in the form of monetary and military aid, provides the basic necessities of life; and volunteers such as Dr. Gibbs offer their psychological services to ease the burden of adjustment into an entirely uncharted and unfamiliar way of life.
In the aftermath of the storm and its relief efforts, from the politicians' "help is on the way so chin up" speeches to the army and Marine invasion of support and aid, how are people reacting to the incredible loss they have suffered now that their basic needs are being met, now that the tents are erected and the kids are back in school?
"The survivors are suffering a myriad of emotional problems," reports Gibbs. "There's a lot of anxiety, restlessness, and an increase in anger and irritability-all of which is a perfectly normal response to a disaster of this magnitude. Many of the children are suffering night terrors. They see 'Andrew' as a real person and they're afraid he's coming back, that he's going to kill them. People feel like they're in a war zone down here-there are 18,000 troops, and the air is filled with helicopters. I know of one family of 65 people, all living in the same shelter, and they're angry because they no longer have control over their lives."
Many, including the armed forces sent to help out, compare the devastation to that of a bombed-out city in Iraq--a sight witnessed by several of those now serving meals and wiring the tents tents electricity Even the bare trees, stripped of their leaves and providing no shade (a normally uncommon sight in South Florida) are constant reminders of the loss.
Psychologists trained in disaster response identify two distinct phases of trauma. Phase One (also called the Impact Phase) is the acute crisis response, typified by feelings of shock, anger, and frustration. During this phase, in which survivors assess their losses and search for what remains, there may be post-traumatic response to storms, a reluctance to accept the need to move into a shelter, and an outbreak of psychosomatic illnesses such as headaches and stomach trouble.

http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19921101-000020.html